Improve your spelling memory

Do you get stressed because you forget spellings so quickly? In this short video we're looking at how to remember and stop forgetting spellings (and most things).

The working memory (short term memory) holds information for a short time then is forgotten. If you want to hold onto something for future use then you have to transfer it from the short term memory to the long term memory.

This will only happen if you make it happen and this is especially true about spelling. Just because you've seen a word and copied it down once, doesn't mean it's yours to spell again. You won't own that word to use it when you want to without really learning it, committing it to memory.

So to improve and remember spellings, you need to keep working on a word - notice it, write it, see the shape and letters in your mind's eye, understand how the word is built using prefixes and suffixes, take note whether it belongs to a word family or a letter pattern, and whether is has a spelling rule, and use it in your writing. (I explain all these strategies in the lessons section.)

How to remember and stop forgetting.

Most forgetting happens in the first few hours.
1. You need to revise little and often.
2. You need to practise a new word you want to learn within 20 seconds or so, and then review it again after about an hour.
3. Then look at the word again after an overnight rest, because sleep seems to help memorization.
4. Don't leave it more than a week before you revise it again and do it at least once more within a month.
5. The more you can use the word in your writing, or consciously take notice of it when it crops up in your reading, the more permanently it will become fixed in your memory.

One good method to fix spelling into your brain is the Look Say Cover Write Check method.Write the word you want to learn on a piece of paper,look at it,
see the shape of it (you must write in lower case always),cover it,write it,
and check it carefully,
and think why you've made that mistake and how to remember it, then try again.Check my video on this great method for a more in depth look - click here to go to the video

So my spelling tip 3 is: writing and spelling are interlinked. If you want to improve your spelling you must write.

Use the words you want to learn in a piece of writing and it will help fix their meaning and their spelling in your mind.

So the more you write the word the more it gets into your long term memory.

NEW BOOK! Spelling Strategies & Secrets: The essential how to spell guide

Online Spelling Rules Course

BBC Learning English

BBC Learning English have named How to Spell.co.uk the number 1 site for spelling: "We often get asked questions about spelling and How to Spell.co.uk is a great site and videos... and fantastic games and quizzes..."

Your Spelling Stories

Click here to read people's experience with spelling, education and work. It's very moving. If you want to tell your story then write it down and send it to me.